No one would want to be exposed to electromagnetic radiation, dehydration, restricted movement, oxidative stress or any additional emotional stress ON PURPOSE – or would they?
I surely don’t want to stress my nervous system and suppress my immune system. But – I’m about to do all of those things to my body. I’ll be trapped in a steel tube for nine hours with a few hundred people in varying states of health – who may even carry diseases.
I wrote this last Thursday before flying from Miami to Portugal for 10 days when I’ll be teaching a few classes and enjoying new views in Lisbon.
Flying unquestionably takes a toll on the nervous system, the entire body and particularly the brain. But, they’ll all recover with proper nutrition and some rest. Of course, the meditation and Qigong practices help to pull things together much faster.
Here are some tips to prepare yourself for flying:
- Do not consume alcohol or coffee for a few days.
- Get as much sleep as possible to boost the immune system.
- Stay as stress-free as possible and exercise regularly.
- Stay grounded with nature, large bodies of water and meditation.
- Take probiotics and vitamins B & C for three days before your trip.
During a flight, you get dehydrated. I drink lots of water and walk around the plane as much as possible. We don’t think about it, but one can easily lose 16 oz. of water through respiration and perspiration over the course of a long flight.
Even your eyes and nose can dry up. Airplane air damages these membranes, drying them out and cracking them, giving airborne pathogens a clear path into the blood stream.
In my carry-on, I always pack homeopathic eye drops, immune sprays and hydrating nose drops. This keeps everything moist and my immune system strong. The goal is to arrive healthy and rested.
The trip preparation is somewhat involved, but it’s all worth it to travel around the planet.
